Ontario Public Education: The Role of Parents….

Trauma?

I’ve had my share.

In fact, I continue to have dreams of being involved in violent altercations.

The first three years of my career were as a front line worker in a group home for severely compromised youths who also had a propensity to violence. Serious violence.

We were trained regularly and intensely in non-violent physical intervention. That is code for being able to disarm and subdue an attacker quickly and in a manner so as to minimize the risk of their injury.

With violent events almost a daily occurrence we had the opportunity to hone those skills regularly. It didn’t mean people didn’t get hurt. They did.

While I only (only?) had to deal with bumps, bruises and bites, I had colleagues more seriously injured with sprains, fractures and concussions.

To this day my dreams have me lashing out defensively.

Arlene wakes me. I realize quickly the situation and easy return to sleep. Years of practice.

On a regular basis I hear the stories of educational assistants with similar scenarios.

The main difference is that their occurrences take place in the public school classroom in full view of other students.

My experiences were contained to a group home and classrooms on site far away from the public and community.

I understand the issues faced by educational assistants. I appreciate the impact of their trauma.

I also worry about the secondary trauma faced by students witnessing these acts in the classroom or their inadvertent desensitization to violence through regular exposure.

Parents are kept in the dark as to these situations. Educational Assistants are not to disclose them publicly for fear of losing their jobs.

The role of the educational assistant extends far beyond their help with the student identified for their support. Their presence helps maintain the safety and security of all kids in the classroom.

These people are burnt out. They are understaffed and underpaid. They are injured regularly and in many cases, severely.

They are leaving the profession yet feel guilty for doing so. They love the kids they serve and strive to make a difference.

All of this turbulance and trauma is the outcome of poor wages and underfunding of more personnel.

The previous conservative government of Mike Harris wanted to create a crisis in education to enable privatization. It got leaked to the public and was forestalled.

This government, so far, has been successful in this agenda. Students are suffering. They don’t care.

Ford and Lecce are pretending to be about the kids while breaking the backbone of public education

Do you care?

I do.

I stand with educational assistants as well as all other education workers, the secretaries, custodians, bus drivers, etc.

They seek a living wage for an often thankless and at times dangerous job.

Withholding of their services imposes a burden upon parents and families. However, not supporting them in this crisis enables a further crisis in public education for which all parents will pay dearly.

Please, if upset, direct anger and energy where it belongs. Call your MPP. Let them know you stand with all education workers.

Parents are the real front line for public education.

Please, make some noise. Be heard.

Your public education depends on you.

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I am Gary Direnfeld and I am a social worker. Check out all my services and then call me if you need help with a personal issue, mental health concern, child behavior or relationship, divorce or separation issue or even help growing your practice. I am available in person and by video conferencing.

Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW

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Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. Courts in Ontario, Canada, consider him an expert in social work, marital and family therapy, child development, parent-child relations and custody and access matters. Gary is the host of the TV reality show, Newlywed, Nearly Dead, former parenting columnist for the Hamilton Spectator and author of Marriage Rescue: Overcoming the ten deadly sins in failing relationships. Gary maintains a private practice in Georgina Ontario, providing a range of services for people in distress. He speaks at conferences and workshops throughout North America. He consults to mental health professionals as well as to mediators and collaborative law professionals about good practice as well as building their practice.